The Small Numbers of Large Kuiper Belt Objects
Abstract
We explore the brightness distribution of the largest and brightest (m(R) < 22) Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs). We construct a luminosity function of the dynamically excited or hot Kuiper Belt (orbits with inclinations >5°) from the very brightest to m(R) = 23. We find for m(R) <~ 23, a single slope appears to describe the luminosity function. We estimate that ~12 KBOs brighter than m(R) ~ 19.5 are present in the Kuiper Belt today. With nine bodies already discovered this suggests that the inventory of bright KBOs is nearly complete.
- Publication:
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The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-6256/147/1/2
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1310.7049
- Bibcode:
- 2014AJ....147....2S
- Keywords:
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- Kuiper belt: general;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted to AJ